Oregon State running back Jacquizz Rodgers, who might be too short for some amusement park rides, wants to prove he can play bigger than his size in the NFL.

Rodgers, who is a dreadlock or two shy of 5-7, was picked by the NFC South defending champion Falcons in the fifth round on Saturday. He will join an Atlanta backfield corps that already has 1,300-yard rusher Michael Turner and Jason Snelling.

Rodgers, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his three seasons at Oregon State and also caught 151 passes, believes he can be more than a third-down specialist in the NFL. In fact, he thinks he can be an every-down back.

"I've been doing it my whole life, and on the college level playing against guys who went to the NFL," Rodgers told Sporting News. "There's no doubt about it. I think I can do it."

Among the running backs Rodgers admires most are 5-8 Ray Rice of the Ravens and 5-7 Maurice Jones-Drew of the Jaguars. Little wonder. He's about the same size as they are.

"People probably doubted them coming out (of college), but they have proven that they're Pro Bowl running backs," he said. "It opened the door for guys short like me."